Morning By Morning #325

O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life.

Lamentations 3:58

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Notice with what assurance the prophet Jeremiah speaks in this verse, for He doesn’t say, “I hope,” “I trust,” or “I sometimes think the Lord ‘took up my case.’” No, he speaks as a matter of fact not to be disputed, saying, “You took up my case.” In the same way may each of us, with the help of our gracious Comforter, shake off all the doubts and fears that so disrupt our peace and comfort. May it be our prayer to be finished with the shaky voice of doubt and suspicion and instead to be able to speak with the clear melodious voice of full assurance.

Next, notice how gratefully Jeremiah speaks, ascribing all the glory to God alone! His focus is on the Lord, not his own pleadings, for he does not attribute his deliverance in any measure to any man, much less himself or his own merit. On the contrary, he says, “O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life.” Christians should cultivate this kind of grateful spirit, singing our praises to Him especially when He delivers us from trouble. Earth should be a temple filled with the songs of grateful saints and every day should be a censer smoking with the sweet incense of thanksgiving.

Also notice how joyful Jeremiah appears to be as he records the Lord’s mercy. How triumphantly he lifts his song to the Lord! He has been in the lowest of dungeons, and even at this point is still “the weeping prophet,” and the very book of our text verse is known as Lamentations. Yet the voice of Jeremiah is as cheerful as the song of Miriam when she “took a tambourine in her hand” (Ex. 15:20) and sang to the Lord, and as thrilling as the song of victory of Deborah and Barak (Judg. 5). His voice of praise rises to heaven saying, “O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life.”

O children of God, seek after a living experience of the Lord’s loving-kindness. Then once you experience it, speak positively of it, sing gratefully, and shout triumphantly.

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

As Jeremiah said, the Lord took up his case, something Jesus continues to do for His children, for John wrote, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). Who better to plead our case than the One who paid the price for our redemption! May we then gratefully “tell of his works with songs of joy” (Ps. 107:22).

“Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness” (Ps. 145:3 – 7).

“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High” (Ps. 9:1 – 2).